Practice 2 Report - Alonso quickest on Hockenheim opening day

Fernando Alonso (1:16.265) took the first step towards living up to his claim that the championship is still a possibility when his Ferrari topped the dry second session of free practice in preparation for Sunday's German GP at Hockenheim.

Alonso was just 0.03s quicker than home hero Sebastian Vettel (1:16.294), the young German showing no ill effects from a minor leg injury following a running fall, which had rendered him unable to play in a charity football match earlier in the week.

Backing up Alonso's performance, Felipe Massa (1:16.438) was third quickest in the second Ferrari F10, marginally quicker than Silverstone winner Mark Webber's Red Bull (1:16.585). Webber, who won team mate Vettel's home race last year, is looking to keep the pressure on having won three races to the young German's two so far this year.

Mercedes is showing signs of being third strongest team, as Nico Rosberg (1:16.827) and Michael Schumacher (1:16.971) kept Ross Brawn's cars well in contention. Schumacher has reiterated that it is still his aim to win an eighth title in his spell with the team and that he does not expect miracles overnight but believes he has the ability and the commitment to make it happen.

Lewis Hamilton (1:17.004) missed most of the afternoon session as his team repaired his McLaren following his crash in the morning session. Once on the track he was quickly up to speed and ended the session comfortably clear of team mate Jenson Button (1:17.739), who was down in 15th position.

Just five thousandths slower than Hamilton was Robert Kubica (1:17.009) with the first of the Renaults, while Rubens Barrichello (1:17.056) and Nico Hulkenberg (1:17.204) maintained the improved form recently demonstrated by Williams.